FBI Probes Donations to Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe's Campaign

Feds are looking into whether donations made to him violated federal law.

ByABC News
May 23, 2016, 6:18 PM
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe gestures as he delivers his State of the Commonwealth Address before a joint session of the 2016 Virginia Assembly at the Capitol in Richmond, Va., Jan. 13, 2016.
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe gestures as he delivers his State of the Commonwealth Address before a joint session of the 2016 Virginia Assembly at the Capitol in Richmond, Va., Jan. 13, 2016.
Steve Helber/AP Photo

— -- Federal authorities have been looking into whether donations to Terry McAuliffe’s 2013 Virginia gubernatorial campaign may have violated federal law, a source with knowledge of the probe told ABC News.

The probe could very well turn up no evidence of criminal wrongdoing, the source said.

According to an attorney for the Democratic governor’s campaign, McAuliffe has not been told he is under FBI investigation, and neither he nor the campaign knows anything about the matter.

Nevertheless, as part of the FBI’s review, agents have looked at McAuliffe’s time associated with the Clinton Global Initiative and contributions to his campaign from foreign nationals such as Wang Wenliang, a prominent Chinese businessman who reportedly donated $120,000, the source said.

“Contributions to the campaign from Mr. Wang were completely lawful,” McAuliffe campaign attorney Marc Elias said in a statement to ABC News. “The governor will certainly cooperate with the government if he is contacted about it.”

An FBI representative declined to comment on the probe, which was first reported by CNN.

The governor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.